HELICONIA I. 



would alight by it or fly about it. On examination this imago proved to be a 

 male, and so did the captured butterflies. 



"At the same time another chrysalis was suspended, and began to change color, 

 October 4th, early iu the afternoon. Soon male butterflies appeared, took hold 

 of the chrysalis, as before, but were easily frightened away. By six o'clock, same 

 afternoon, the color had chansred, and males came freelv, attached theuiselves 

 lirmly, and would not let go, in fact, were utterly regardless of their safety. 

 When picked off they would fly around and return at once. Two males remained 

 all night. Before daybreak next morning, 1 was at my post, and tiiere found 

 the two males, opposite one another, head down, abdomen curved towards the 

 abdominal end of the chrysalis, both apparently exercising a pressure. Lighted 

 matches held near them would not drive them away, shaking the twig did not 

 loosen their hold, only picking tliem off bodily separated them from the chrys- 

 alis. The latter was now almost black, and momentarily I expected the shell to 

 burst. This happened, but the break was not at the usual place. Owing prob- 

 ably to the jiressure or weight of the butterflies, the shell burst at the abilom- 

 inal end, and instantly one of the males made connection with the female imago, 

 while the head and thoi-ax of the latter were still enclosed. After about ten 

 minutes, I determined to free the new insect, which was accomplished by a slight 

 pressure on the shell, and I then removed the pair and suspended them to a leaf- 

 stem. The wings of the female immediately began to expand, but they did not 

 fully develop. Without my aid, the imago would not have been aide to extricate 

 itself from the shell, although copulation had been effected. 



"I suspended another chrysalis, well discolored, under same conditions, Octo- 

 ber Ttli, in the morning. Males flocked, circled about a few times, approached 

 closelv and then flew off atjain, none having alighted or actually touched the 

 chrysalis. This went on for an hour, when a male emerged. The butterflies 

 were mostly caught and all proved to be males. 



" October 17th, another chrysalis was suspended under same conditions as the 

 last mentioned. Males appeared, *etc. Behavior just as before ; none touching. 

 Tiie imago proved to l)e a male." 



On November 1st, Dr. Wittfeld ao-ain wrote : " To-dav I made another corrob- 

 orative observation on Heliconia chrysalis. At eight A. M., two males attached 

 themselves to a female chrysalis, and acted as before reported. Four more males 

 had appeared by nine o'clock, took hold as best they could, and the six made 

 quite a bunch. Soon after others came, Init had to be content with flying in 

 close proximity, as there was no more holding room. At ten o'clock. I freed the 

 female from the crowd, and found the abdomen exposed, but head and thorax 

 still iu the shell. I carried her to the house, allowed her to suspend from a 



